RAS News

Newsletter of RAS (Richmond Astronomical Society)
September, 2001

Visit our web site at www.richastro.org

Next meeting--Monday, Sept. 10

Meeting location change

We'll be meeting in the Eureka Theater on the third floor of the Science Museum for our September meeting. This month only.

Picnic successful

We finally held the annual picnic last Saturday, after two postponements. About 25 of us got together at the observatory on a pretty nice evening, albeit a little on the humid side. We grilled hot dogs, ate fried chicken, shrimp, veggies, and I'm sure about 8 or 10 other varieties of dishes that I can't recall.

And a funny story--as I was walking out to leave, a lady pulled up alongside me in a van, and asked me if there was an observatory back there. I said yes, and she said she'd been curious for years, and would love to see it. So, since Randy had the observatory open and the telescope focused on the moon, I invited her in. She has her own telescope and lives in the neighborhood, but she had no idea we had such a marvelous instrument hidden away in our little nook back there behind the shopping center.

Saylor's Creek Skywatch
by Keith Johnson

I would like to personally thank everyone for coming out to the Saylor's Creek observation site on July 21st. We had an excellent night after a few early clouds parted. The milky way star cloud was very visible and planetary views of Mars were still reasonably good. Sagittarius and Scorpius were clearly visible with little atmospheric distortion. Several Messier objects were stunning, including: M16, M17, M24, M8, M20, M22, M9, and M19. Detail was excellenet! Public turnout was lighter than I had expected: however, the public proves at times to be more elusive than the hope of clear weather. Many children enjoyed views of various stars,  including Nunki, Al-Nasl, and Antares' companion star with its greenish hue! I am coordinating with park officials on having a monthly skywatch throughout the winter months. The dates so far include: Oct. 19 at 7:00-10:00 pm and Nov. 16 at 5:30-9:00 pm. We are trying a Friday this year to see if public turnout is better or lighter. You just have to experiment sometimes! Well, I hope to see many of you there and until then, clear skies....

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Amelia observing report
by Keith Johnson

Recently, I have had the opportunity to go out on a steady clear night and observe many of the late summer and early fall constellations. One aspect of country living is that clear  dark skies in the country tend to allow one to see more detail and with greater clarity than city viewing. Not only was the view of Cygnus great as it slowly comes overhead, but Lyra as well. An Oxygen 3 filter and an eight inch wide field reflector makes the Veil Nebula a sight to behold. The North American Nebula is clear and can be seen with binoculars; however, with a wide field telescope it really shines with detail and does look closely like the North American continent. Vega in Lyra was bright and presented a clear blue/white star pattern. During early July I was able to do more detailed observing from my observatory of the constellation Aquarius. One of my favorite targets is the Helix Nebula which was a stunning sight with the use of an Oxygen 3 filter, and a wide field Orion eyepiece. Some reddish coloring could be faintly made out. Another favorite target is the Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) which glows a bright blue color. On a clear dark night from my observatory I can detect ring-like projections within this planetary nebula. I hope to do more observing if the weather will cooperate. Until then good luck with your observing, and clear skies.

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Reward for stolen telescope stuff
by Gary Hand, Hands on Optics astroguy@erols.com

There was a local burglary for a large amount of telescope equipment. If
you have seen any of the following. Please contact Gary at 301-482-0000.
A $1000 reward will go to the first lead resulting in an arrest.  All
contacts will be absolutely confidential.

STOLEN ITEMS
.....Elf 1 Night Vision monocular, Missing soft case and instructions
.....Intes Micro 2" Pentaprism diagonal. Very Rare, no 1.25" adapter or end caps
.....Intes Micro A703 7" F/10 Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope  with SCT Sky
Instruments 2" diagonal, Missing 1.25" Intes Micro diagonal Missing soft
case. Missing Barlow and eyepiece. Missing dew cap. Missing finder
dewcaps.  Several mark on the dovetail mounting bar on one side.
..... Meade ETX125, missing, eyepiece, finder, hand paddle, instructions, boxes,
.....Nikon 900 CoolPix digital camera. Missing all cables and software.
Missing plastic lens over the flashbulb.
.....Giro Telescope mount with single arm style and dove tail adapter.
Some scrap marks on the side of the mounting center section. Mounted on
Celestron NexStar head tripod with top plate removed. Tripod brace is
broken. Missing No accessory tray
.....40mm Meade Super Wide 2" diameter. No box or screwdown case
.....14mm Meade Ultra Wide Eyepiece with a nick in the barrel. No box or screwdown case
.....2X Meade Barlow Model 140. No box or end caps
.....2X Meade Barlow Model 126. No box or end caps
....Brandon 1.25" mirror diagonal with red plastic end plugs
....Antares 40mm 2" Erfle eyepiece Missing box and endcaps
...42mm Celestron Ultima 1.25" Missing box and endcaps
...23mm Celestron Axiom 1.25"  Missing box and endcaps
...Antares Ultima 15mm - Orange Lettering, Missing box and endcaps
...Antares Ultima 10mm - Orange Lettering, Missing box and endcaps
...Antares Ultima 5mm - Orange Lettering, Missing box and endcaps
...Antares Ultima 25mm - Orange Lettering, Missing box and endcaps

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Travesty in education
from Foxnews

Astrology School Becomes Nationally Accredited

Monday, August 27, 2001

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  — The stars were favorably aligned this month for the Astrological Institute, says founder Joyce Jensen, whose students learn to write horoscopes and give advice about the future.

The modest school in suburban Phoenix won accreditation from a federally recognized body, in what's believed to be a first for a school of astrology. Now the institute can seek approval from the U.S. Education Department for its students to get federal grants and loans.

From her observation of the celestial array, Jensen said she now sees that "this was a very good time" for her school. But Jensen — a 60-year-old Scorpio — also noted she's been seeking accreditation for years, and wouldn't have stopped no matter what the stars indicated.

Her institute, where courses include a "master class on the asteroid goddesses" and "how to write an astrological column," offers one program: a diploma in astrology and psychology.

The institute received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology after demonstrating that its teachers are qualified and that its graduates can be placed in jobs, said Elise Scanlon, head of the Arlington, Va.-based commission.

Scanlon and other officials in her field knew of no other accredited astrology schools.

Judith Eaton, head of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in Washington, said the accreditation doesn't validate astrology, but only recognizes that the school fulfills what it promises its students.

The institute occupies part of a former elementary school. Inside its orange front door, painted with a fiery sun, the school is sparsely decorated. Its two classrooms contain little more than folding tables and chairs; a few Indian rugs on the walls lend a Southwestern flavor.

Tuition is $5,300, with classes offered in the day and evening. Full-time students can earn a diploma in 12 months. But a majority of the 32 students now enrolled come at night, after working day jobs.

To earn a diploma, they must pass six required courses: three each in astrology and psychology, plus at least four electives. Besides learning astrology, Jensen said, "if you're going to be an astrologer, you really need the skills of counseling people."

Graduates usually set up private practice, though some get hired in holistic healing centers, spas and cruise ships, Jensen said. She hopes eventually to offer an associate degree, which would require further accreditation.

With the respectability of accreditation and the possibility of financial aid, Jensen, an astrologer herself, hopes to draw younger people more interested in astrology as a profession than a know-thyself pursuit. Many of the students now are in their 30s.

"We haven't had young people for a long time" because they lack the money to pay for the program, Jensen said.

Astrology claims a person's character and fate are directed at birth by the position of the Sun, Moon, and planets. This is charted in a horoscope, which is often done these days with the help of computer software.

Scientists scoff at the pursuit.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist who heads the Hayden Planetarium in New York, noted astrology was discredited 600 years ago with the birth of modern science. "To teach it as though you are contributing to the fundamental knowledge of an informed electorate is astonishing in this, the 21st century," he said.

Education should be about knowing how to think, Tyson said. "And part of knowing how to think is knowing how the laws of nature shape the world around us. Without that knowledge, without that capacity to think, you can easily become a victim of people who seek to take advantage of you."

Jensen is familiar with such criticism. "It's quite obvious that he hasn't studied the subject," she said.

VAAS convention, 2001
by John Goss, RVAS

Beautiful fall days, crystal clear nights..... Welcome to autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plan your get-away now for V.A.A.S. (Virginia Association of Astronomical Societies)--- Saturday, October 13, 2001. V.A.A.S. will be held on the campus of Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, sponsored by R.V.A.S. (Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society). Come enjoy "leaf season" at its peak, a variety of fascinating speakers, star-gazing on the Blue Ridge Parkway (weather-permitting) , door prizes and the camaraderie of astronomy enthusiasts.

See our web-site http://members.home.com/roavas for V.A.A.S. details and registration form. The deadline for early registration is September 22. Check out the links for the Roanoke Valley's attractions and accommodations and bring the family! Our V.A.A.S venue is close to Center-in-the-Square, the Transportation Museum, Mill Mountain Zoo, and Virginia's Explore Park.

John Jardine Goss
V.A.A.S. Coordinator

New club slogan
by Cindy Bowers

Interesting new scope
by Cindy Bowers

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Calendar

Calendar created by ImpactSoft

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Dues Renewal Form

Your RAS 2001 membership subscription is now overdue, if you haven't paid yours.

Please furnish the following information to the treasurer:

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

________________________________________________

Phone: _______________ (h) _________________ (w)

Email: _____________________________________________

Amount:

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Contact information

All meetings are the second Monday of the month, at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For more information, contact Terry Barker, 379-8175, or tbarker@i2020.net.

Board presentation months

The months that have been assigned for presentations by the board for 2001 are:

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